Best Colleges and Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees 2025
The best criminal justice degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best criminal justice degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding criminal justice faculty.
Key Takeaways
- The best programs for criminal justice may include focused areas like forensic science, homeland security, or juvenile justice, allowing students to pursue specific career paths within criminal justice.
- Many of the programs in our ranking emphasize practical experience, offering internships, mock trial participation, and partnerships with law enforcement agencies for real-world exposure.
- The best colleges and universities for criminal justice have programs that are led by faculty with extensive professional experience in law enforcement, legal fields, or criminal justice, providing students with valuable insights and networking opportunities.
Best Colleges and Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best colleges and universities for criminal justice degrees saw a considerable amount of shuffling. Portland State University gained the most ranking positions as the university’s Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice has introduced several enhancements to enrich the student experience. Notably, the department has expanded its curriculum to include specialized courses in areas such as crime mapping and crime analysis, providing students with in-depth knowledge of these critical aspects of criminal justice.
Additionally, the university offers flexible class options, including on-campus and fully online formats, allowing students to choose the learning environment that best fits their schedules and learning preferences. The department also emphasizes practical experience by actively encouraging internships, considering them an integral part of the curriculum, and collaborates with the Career Development Center to help place students in criminal justice internship positions. These improvements aim to provide a comprehensive and practical education, equipping students with the skills and experience needed to excel in the dynamic field of criminal justice.
Featured Programs
The Best Colleges and Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees
- #1 15 Best Self-paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #5 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #5 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
84%
Student body
58K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at University of Washington
Cost of Degree: $12,643Expenses: $21,909Starting Salary: $55,559Salary after 4 years: $67,938Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #19 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Massachusetts 2025 #3 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2025 #3 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2025
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
89%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Boston University
Cost of Degree: $65,168Expenses: $21,195Starting Salary: $64,471Salary after 4 years: $77,229Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryBoston University’s Online Degrees
BS in Undergrad Completion Program
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2025 #2 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #3 15 Best Self-paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #6 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers 2025
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
23%
Graduation
90%
Student body
63K
Median SAT/ACT
1395/30
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at University of Florida
Cost of Degree: $6,381Expenses: $16,220Starting Salary: $52,446Salary after 4 years: $64,131Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #4 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #24 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
25%
Graduation
85%
Student body
51K
Median SAT/ACT
1290/28
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Florida State University
Cost of Degree: $6,517Expenses: $20,296Starting Salary: $43,026Salary after 4 years: $52,613Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryFlorida State University’s Online Degrees
BA in Computer Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Computer Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Safety and Security
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #5 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #9 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #1 Best Christian Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1487/34
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Boston College
Cost of Degree: $67,680Expenses: $21,925Starting Salary: $78,571Salary after 4 years: $94,119Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #16 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2025 #9 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2025 #9 Best Public Colleges in California 2025
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
55%
Student body
30K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at San Francisco State University
Cost of Degree: $7,424Expenses: $23,032Starting Salary: $43,665Salary after 4 years: $53,394Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #3 Best Public Colleges in Oregon 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Oregon 2024 #3 Best Research Universities in Oregon 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Oregon 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
53%
Student body
28K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Portland State University
Cost of Degree: $10,617Expenses: $16,785Starting Salary: $40,552Salary after 4 years: $49,587Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryPortland State University’s Online Degrees
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Technology And Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Business Technology And Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Management And Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Management And Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Supply And Logistics Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Criminology And Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Criminology And Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Arts And Letters
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Cultural History Of The Arts
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Philosophy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Philosophy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Social Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Social Work
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health Studies: Aging
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Public Health Studies: Aging
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Public Health Studies: Community Health Promotion
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
51%
Graduation
54%
Student body
19K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Cost of Degree: $7,470Starting Salary: $39,913Salary after 4 years: $48,806John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Online Degrees
BS in Security Management
- Required Credits: 39
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2025 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Criminal Justice Degrees #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Business Degrees in 2025 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degrees 2025
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
40%
Graduation
73%
Student body
44K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at California State University, Long Beach
Cost of Degree: $7,008Expenses: $21,408Starting Salary: $42,308Salary after 4 years: $51,734Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #1 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs 2025 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice #4 Best Online Master’s in Executive MBA #5 Best Online Colleges in Texas 2024
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
56%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/21
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Sam Houston State University
Cost of Degree: $9,228Expenses: $16,966Starting Salary: $39,674Salary after 4 years: $48,513Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salarySam Houston State University’s Online Degrees
BBA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Homeland Security Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Victim Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in General Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Communications
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Sociology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in History
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Political Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
- Required Credits: 121
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Health Care Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Small Colleges in Louisiana 2025 #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Louisiana 2025 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Social Work Degrees #23 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Education Degrees
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
17%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at Southern University at New Orleans
Cost of Degree: $7,490Expenses: $17,564Starting Salary: $25,624Salary after 4 years: $31,334Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #17 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Education Degrees #25 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Communications Degrees 2025
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
21%
Graduation
63%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1149/22
Career Outlook for Criminal Justice degree at College of the Ozarks
Cost of Degree: $21,290Expenses: $12,444Starting Salary: $29,984Salary after 4 years: $35,918Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary
Career Outlook for Students with Criminal Justice Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
Degree Level: Bachelor's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,761
- Avg. Expenses*: $17,051
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $37,658
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $46,048
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 12 years
- Job Growth: 5.52%
- Number of Jobs: 1,443,100
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Managers, All Other | 5.75% | $133,560 |
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | 3.81% | $101,750 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators | 2.29% | $91,100 |
Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers | 3.92% | $72,280 |
Transit and Railroad Police | 4.17% | $72,250 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $101,750 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $91,100 |
The Best Criminal Justice Schools in Your State
Learn More About Criminal Justice
If you want to know more about criminal justice, then check out our related content:
- Learn how to major in criminal justice
- Learn about criminal justice from our expert interviews with influential criminologist
- Find out who are the most influential criminologists today
A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is an excellent starting point for a career in policing, corrections, homeland security, and a host of other important roles related to crime, justice, and public safety. As a criminal justice major, you’ll study three primary subject areas—law enforcement, corrections, and the courts.
Majoring in criminal justice is a good starting point if you plan to study policing, law, administration of justice, counter-terrorism, and more. You’ll study related subjects including criminal psychology, rehabilitation, and sociology. And if you’re interested in eventually going to law school and becoming a practicing attorney, majoring in criminal justice could be a good starting point.
A degree in criminal justice will give you the knowledge and qualifications to contribute to public safety, national security, social justice, and a host of other related fields.
For an in-depth look at how socioeconomic factors affect crime rates, take a look at our interview with influential criminologist, Dr. Richard Rosenfeld.
Degree popularity: Criminal justice bachelor’s degrees are the 16th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It is slightly more popular among men. Crimianl justice degrees rank 6th among Black men, 8th for Black women, 8th among Hispanic men, and 15th for Hispanic women, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics.